4 VERB If something that is falling or moving strikes something, it hits it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] His head struck the bottom when he dived into the 6ft end of the pool. □ [V n] One 16-inch shell struck the control tower.
5 VERB If you strike one thing against another, or if one thing strikes against another, the first thing hits the second thing. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + on/against ] Wilde fell and struck his head on the stone floor. □ [V + against ] My right toe struck against a submerged rock.
6 VERB If something such as an illness or disaster strikes , it suddenly happens. □ [V ] Bank of England officials continued to insist that the pound would soon return to stability but disaster struck. □ [V n] A powerful earthquake struck the island early this morning.
7 VERB To strike means to attack someone or something quickly and violently. □ [V ] The attacker struck as she was walking near the town centre.
8 N‑COUNT A military strike is a military attack, especially an air attack. □ …a punitive air strike. □ …a nuclear strike. [Also + against ]
9 VERB If something strikes at the heart or root of something, it attacks or conflicts with the basic elements or principles of that thing. [LITERARY ] □ [V + at ] …a rejection of her core beliefs and values, which strikes at the very heart of her being.
10 VERB [no cont] If an idea or thought strikes you, it suddenly comes into your mind. □ [V n] A thought struck her. Was she jealous of her mother, then? □ [V n that] At this point, it suddenly struck me that I was wasting my time.
11 VERB If something strikes you as being a particular thing, it gives you the impression of being that thing. □ [V n + as ] He struck me as a very serious but friendly person. □ [V n + as ] You've always struck me as being an angry man.
12 VERB If you are struck by something, you think it is very impressive, noticeable, or interesting. □ [be V -ed + by/with ] She was struck by his simple, spellbinding eloquence. □ [V n] What struck me about the firm is how genuinely friendly and informal it is.
13 VERB If you strike a deal or a bargain with someone, you come to an agreement with them. □ [V n + with ] They struck a deal with their paper supplier, getting two years of newsprint on credit. □ [V n] The two struck a deal in which Rendell took half of what a manager would. □ [V n] He insists he has struck no bargains for their release.
14 VERB If you strike a balance, you do something that is halfway between two extremes. □ [V n] At times like that you have to strike a balance between sleep and homework.
15 VERB If you strike a pose or attitude, you put yourself in a particular position, for example when someone is taking your photograph. □ [V n] She struck a pose, one hand on her hip.
16 VERB If something strikes fear into people, it makes them very frightened or anxious. [LITERARY ] □ [V n + in/into ] His name strikes fear into the hearts of his opponents .
17 VERB [usu passive] If you are struck dumb or blind, you suddenly become unable to speak or to see. [WRITTEN ] □ [be V -ed] I was struck dumb by this and had to think it over for a moment.
18 VERB When a clock strikes , its bells make a sound to indicate what the time is. □ [V n] The clock struck nine. □ [V ] Finally, the clock strikes.
19 VERB If you strike words from a document or an official record, you remove them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + from ] Strike that from the minutes. [Also V n] ● PHRASAL VERB Strike out means the same as strike . □ [V P n] The censor struck out the next two lines. [Also V n P ]
20 VERB When you strike a match, you make it produce a flame by moving it quickly against something rough. □ [V n] Robina struck a match and held it to the crumpled newspaper in the grate.
21 VERB If someone strikes oil or gold, they discover it in the ground as a result of mining or drilling. □ [V n] Hamilton Oil announced that it had struck oil in the Liverpool Bay area of the Irish Sea.
22 VERB [usu passive] When a coin or medal is struck , it is made. □ [be V -ed] Another medal was specially struck for him.
23 → see also stricken , striking , hunger strike
24 PHRASE If you strike gold , you find, do, or produce something that brings you a lot of money or success. [JOURNALISM ] □ The company has struck gold with its new holiday development.
25 PHRASE If you strike it rich , you make a lot of money, especially in a short time. [INFORMAL ] □ He hoped to strike it rich by investing in ginseng.
26 to strike a chord → see chord
27 to strike home → see home ➊
28 to strike it lucky → see lucky
29 to strike a happy medium → see medium
▸ strike back PHRASAL VERB If you strike back , you harm or criticize someone who has harmed or criticized you. □ [V P ] Our instinctive reaction when someone causes us pain is to strike back. □ [V P + at ] Sometimes, Kappy got angry and struck back at him in whatever way she could.
▸ strike down PHRASAL VERB [usu passive] If someone is struck down , especially by an illness, they are killed or severely harmed by it. [WRITTEN ] □ [be V -ed P ] Frank had been struck down by a massive heart attack.